Department for Transport

Motor Vehicles: Testing

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultation they undertook with the (1) Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, (2) Independent Garage Association, and (3) Institute of the Motor Industry, prior to introducing the MOT exemption; and what assessment they have made of the impact of the lockdown ease in England on the number of unsafe cars on the roads.

baroness vere of norbiton: In accordance with section 195(2) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, the Department consulted with a selection of representative organisations including the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the Independent Garage Association. The analysis of the effect of these regulations is ongoing.

Aviation: Coronavirus

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with British Airways and other airlines about the (1) requirement to provide passenger refunds for cancelled flights within the legal timescale, and (2) the need to ensure consumer rights are respected.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Department for Transport is in regular conversation with UK airlines and wider membership bodies. We are working closely with the sector, the regulator and consumer groups to help ensure airlines deliver on their commitments. The Government recognises the challenges businesses are experiencing regarding refunds for cancelled holidays and flights. Airlines are working hard to answer the high call volumes and to process large volumes of refunds. The Government appreciates the frustration consumers may be experiencing. We have been clear that where a consumer has asked for a refund, that refund must be paid.

Travel: Coronavirus

lord berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following their announcement of a £2 billion funding package to support alternative ways to travel, how this funding will be distributed to local authorities; whether smaller councils such as district councils and London borough councils will be able to access the funding; and what is their expected timeframe for allocating and distributing this funding.

baroness vere of norbiton: On 23 May, the Secretary of State announced that local authorities would be allocated a share of £225 million to create ‘pop up’ and permanent cycle lanes and reallocate road space. The funding is being released in two phases. The first tranche of £45 million will be released as soon as possible subject to Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) submitting suitably ambitious plans to the Department. London boroughs and Transport for London (TfL) are also eligible for funding. The Department wrote to LTAs, London boroughs and TfL on 27 and 28 May respectively detailing how they should apply for funding. The deadline for LTAs to submit their plans for tranche one is 5 June 2020. The second tranche of £180m will be released later in the summer, again, subject to LTAs submitting ambitious plans. Indicative allocations for LTAs, including London can be found on GOV.UK

Leader of the House of Lords

Ministers: Conduct

lord harris of haringey: To ask the Leader of the House who is responsible for ensuring that ministers adhere to paragraph 6.14 of the Companion to the Standing Orders and Guide to the Proceedings in the House of Lords which specifies that they should give accurate and truthful information to Parliament, and be as open as possible in answering questions.

baroness evans of bowes park: Individual Ministers are responsible to the House for the answers they provide. As Leader of the House I regularly remind Ministers of the importance of their obligations to the House and will continue to do so.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Trade Marks: Legal Opinion

lord smith of finsbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that there will be equality in the treatment of rights of representation between trademark attorneys in the UK, the EU, and the European Economic Area (EEA) once the UK has withdrawn from the EU; and whether any such plans (1) include a common right of representation for such attorneys before the European Intellectual Property Office, or (2) would not giveEU or EEA attorneysthe right of representationin the UK.

lord callanan: We want a relationship with the EU which is based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals, and centred on free trade. We are looking for a deal like those the EU has previously struck with other friendly countries like Canada. FTA precedent is our starting point for legal services. We aim to secure market access commitments for lawyers and minimise barriers to the cross-border supply of services and investment, on the basis of commitments like those in the Canada FTA.

Dismissal: Coronavirus

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that (1) disabled people, and (2) those who live with a vulnerable person, are being threatened with dismissal if they do not physically return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord callanan: Government is actively monitoring the impact of Covid-19 on the labour market, including the impact on those with disabilities and on other groups. Employers must comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 to ensure that they do not unlawfully discriminate. The Public Health advice is clear and we expect employers to act accordingly. Clinically extremely vulnerable individuals have been strongly advised not to work outside the home. They have been asked to take extra care in observing social distancing and should be helped to work from home, either in their current role or in an alternative role. If clinically vulnerable (but not extremely clinically vulnerable) individuals cannot work from home, they should be offered the option of the safest available on site roles, enabling them to stay 2m away from others. If they have to spend time within 2m of others, the employer should carefully assess whether this involves an acceptable level of risk. Those living with clinically extremely vulnerable individuals do not need to start shielding themselves, but they should do what they can to carefully follow guidance on staying alert and safe (social distancing).

Coronavirus: Israel

lord turnberg: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the research into COVID-19 by the MIGAL Research Institute in Israel and the potential effectiveness of their orally-administered vaccine Migvax.

lord callanan: The Vaccines Taskforce is working with experts, as appointed by Kate Bingham as Chair, to assess the range of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates being developed around the world. As part of this assessment, Government will evaluate the MIGAL Research Institute’s orally-administered, viral vector-based vaccine. Companies and research institutes are welcome to submit proposals to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) research calls. Government support is available to prioritise, coordinate and deliver studies which qualify as urgent public health research.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the speech by the Prime Minister on 24 July 2019, what steps they have taken to establish a UK satellite navigation system.

lord callanan: The UK’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Programme is currently in its Engineering, Design and Development Phase to research and understand what would best suit the UK’s positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) requirements. The Programme is taking the appropriate time to investigate the requirements, design specifications and costs as fully as possible. This includes assessing value for money, scope for innovation, new markets and how much a system could meet the UKs assured PNT requirements. We recently proceeded with a number of technical contracts from April to September to deliver key engineering work whilst protecting skills and technical GNSS sector jobs. We are now considering workstreams past September in addition to looking at wider PNT requirements, bringing together expertise from across Whitehall, industry and the PNT community to consider the requirements across military, civil and Critical National Infrastructure sectors.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the feasibility study carried out by the UK Space Agency concluded that it was feasible for the UK to establish its own satellite navigation system.

lord callanan: The UK’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is still undergoing the Engineering Design and Development Phase which will determine the requirements for delivering the capability, looking at cost, design specifications, scope for innovation and potential for new markets.

Galileo System

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what part, if any, the UK is playing in the EU’s Galileo satellite system.

lord callanan: During the implementation period, UK companies and other UK entities can continue to take part in the EU’s space programmes, except in the security-related sensitive aspects of Galileo where UK participation has been excluded by the European Commission since January 2018. UK companies continue to deliver contracts for the EU’s space programmes, such as the construction of Galileo payloads by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL). The UK now does not have a level of access to Galileo that would enable us to assure the system and use it for purposes such as defence and security. As such, the UK will not seek to continue participation in the Galileo programme at the end of the implementation period.

Horizon Europe

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in the negotiations regarding future participation by the UK in the Horizon Europe research programme; and what preparations are being made to address any shortfall in UK research capacity should the UK cease to participate in Horizon Europe.

lord callanan: The Government is committed to ensuring the UK becomes a global science superpower and continues to collaborate with Europe on scientific research. The UK is ready to consider a relationship in line with non-EU Member State participation in Horizon Europe, provided that this represents value for money and is in the UK’s interest. Any agreements relating to Union programmes should contain fair terms for UK participation. This should include fair treatment of participants, a fair and appropriate financial contribution, provisions allowing for sound financial management by both parties, and appropriate governance and consultation. The shape and content of EU Programmes post-2020, including Horizon Europe, are currently being negotiated in the EU Institutions and have not yet been finalised. These EU Programmes must be adopted by the EU before arrangements for potential UK participation could be finalised. I refer the Noble Lord to a Written Ministerial Statement made by my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 19 May (HCWS245), which set out that discussions covered all workstreams including: general terms for UK participation in programmes, including provisions for financial contribution. We are also considering a range of alternative schemes to support international research and innovation collaboration in tandem with Horizon Europe negotiations. These include options to address immediate needs and work through to any future funding scenario.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Syria: Sanctions

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 13 May (HL Deb, col 681), what assessment they have made of the compatibility of the continuing prohibition on sales of dual use goods such as disinfectants and nitrous oxide for anaesthetics to the Syrian Ministry of Health with the exemption of medical supplies used for humanitarian purposes from sanctions on that country.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: EU Syria sanctions do not prohibit the sale, supply, transfer, export or finance of disinfectants, nitrous oxide and other goods required to combat Covid-19. Certain goods and their components can be used for internal repression, including through chemical attacks, and are therefore subject to prohibitions but even in those cases, humanitarian exemptions enable them to be sold or exported where the end user has demonstrated that the goods will be used to deliver humanitarian relief and will not be transferred to a designated person or entity. The Syrian Ministry of Health is not designated in the EU Syria sanctions. Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with UK legislation and the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. On 12 May, the European Commission issued guidance on the humanitarian exemptions to the Syria sanctions regulations to support humanitarian organisations.

Iran: Coronavirus

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the US government on facilitating the supply of humanitarian relief to the government of Iran for the treatment of Iranian citizens with COVID-19.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The  UK, along with France and Germany (the E3), have expressed their full solidarity with all impacted by  COVID-19  in Iran. We are working with the international community to ensure that Iran receives the humanitarian support it needs: the E3 have provided a EUR 5 million package of financial and material assistance to Iran via the World Health Organisation and UN bodies to help with the response. We also continue to engage the US on a range of policy matters relating to Iran, including how the international community can best support the Iranian Government's response to the COVID-19 crisis in Iran. We welcome the new US Treasury factsheet issued on 16th April summarising the humanitarian exemptions to sanctions against Iran and offering additional guidance for individuals and governments.

West Bank: Bank Services

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the Israeli military order that forbids banks in the occupied West Bank from processing payments that the Palestinian Authority distributes to the families of Palestinians who have spent time in Israeli jails.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are aware of the Military Order and have discussed with the Israeli authorities. We continue to call on the Palestinian Authority to reform the prisoner payments system so that it is needs based, transparent and affordable.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about reports that a Palestinian man was shot dead by hospital guards in front of Sheba hospital on 13 May.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We understand from reporting that this was a criminal matter which would be a matter for the Israeli Government.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about reports that an unarmed 15 year old Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli forces during a raid on Fawwar refugee camp.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: As we made clear at the UN Security Council remote meeting on the Middle East Peace Process on 20 May, we remain deeply concerned by the ongoing cycle of violence. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, in particular the need to protect children, and urge restraint in the use of live fire. In instances where there have been accusations of excessive use of force, we have advocated swift, transparent investigations.

West Bank: Sanitation

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about reports that mobile latrines have been demolished and water tanks have been damaged by Israeli forces in Palestinian and Bedouin communities in the West Bank in March and April.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is seriously concerned by the continued demolition of Palestinian property by Israeli authorities. In all but the most exceptional of circumstances demolitions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. The practice causes unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians and is harmful to the peace process. We have also previously stressed the need to take immediate and practical measures to ensure fair distribution of water in the West Bank.

West Bank: Agriculture

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs West Bank Demolitions and Displacement: An Overview, published in March, what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the creation of a closed firing zone for military training, displacing a Palestinian herding community; and what assessment they have made of reports that Israeli forces requisitioned equipment provided through humanitarian aid in use by that community.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: While we have not made representations on this specific issue, we continue to be concerned by the impact of military firing zones in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as the continued demolition of Palestinian property by Israeli authorities and evictions of Palestinians from their homes.

West Bank: Roads

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about reports that roads in the West Bank to Palestinian communities have been blocked by Israeli forces.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: While we have not made representations on this specific issue, we have lobbied the authorities on the issue of movement and access through our Embassy in Tel Aviv. We remain concerned about restrictions on freedom of movement within the West Bank, including to and from East Jerusalem, and between Gaza and the West Bank.

Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to call for the Biological Weapons Convention to be updated to include provision for inspection and compliance enforcement at the Ninth Review Conference due to occur in 2021.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK strongly supports the effective global implementation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. Verification remains a highly contested question and there is currently no prospect of consensus among the Convention's States Parties to agree any declaration, inspection or investigation provisions. However, at the Ninth Review Conference the UK will work to build consensus on strengthening the operation of the Convention, including improved decision making and more structured scientific and technological review processes.The UK continues to take a leading role in efforts to build up and sustain operational capabilities for the UN Secretary-General's Mechanism for the investigation of allegations of the use of chemical and biological weapons. This is complementary to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.

Hebron: Religious Buildings

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to propose a joint UK–EU initiative to protect the Ibrahimi Mosque, following reports thatthe government of Israel isplanning renovations and improvements to the building, without prior consultation or agreement and which could involve some expropriation of Palestinian land.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The holy sites of East Jerusalem and the West Bank hold particular significance for many groups around the globe, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. In our meetings with the Israeli authorities we regularly raise the need to respect the status quo of the holy sites in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. We continue to urge the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to avoid actions that make it more difficult to achieve a negotiated solution to the conflict.

Israel: Palestinians

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel following the recent judgment handed down by the Israeli Central Court to deduct 450 million Israeli shekels from Palestinian tax revenues

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are aware of this case and are following developments as the legal process is still ongoing. It is important that economic and fiscal agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority to continue to be fully implemented.

West Bank: Demolition

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the use of Military Order 1797 on Palestinian property and the demolition of unlicensed structures deemed as new in Area C within 96 hours of such an order being issued.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv have repeatedly raised our concerns about the increase in demolitions of Palestinian properties in Area C of the West Bank and in East Jerusalem. We call on them to cease the policy of demolitions and provide a clear, transparent route to construction for Palestinians in Area C.

Hebron: Religious Buildings

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority about the preservation of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: In our meetings with the Israeli authorities we regularly raise the need to respect the status quo of the holy sites in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. We continue to urge the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to avoid actions that make it more difficult to achieve a negotiated solution to the conflict.

Department of Health and Social Care

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

lord rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for suspending charging for prescriptions in England to assist pharmacies and patients by removing the need to collect and pay such charges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: Prescription charge is a valuable source of income for the National Health Service. We have no plans to suspend them.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

baroness garden of frognal: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they are developing for extensive testing, contact-tracing and quarantine in society as a whole prior to schools starting up again during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: The Government launched its new NHS Test and Trace service on 28 May. It will help identify, contain and control COVID-19, reducing its spread and saving lives.As part of this service, the Government has extended eligibility for tests to all those who display symptoms of COVID-19 including children of all ages. This means that, once schools open to a wider cohort, a child or young person will be able to get back into childcare or education, and their parents or guardians to return to work, if the test proves to be negative.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria they used to select Deloitte to manage the procurement of personal protection equipment.

lord bethell: Deloitte is providing operational support for the procurement process of personal protective equipment (PPE) from existing and new manufacturers who can assist in scaling-up regulatory-approved PPE resources within the United Kingdom. As an existing professional services provider to the public sector, Deloitte’s expertise is being used to supplement in-house resource to deliver significant programmes of work, which currently includes the national response to COVID-19.Guidance on how contracting authorities should respond to COVID-19 was published on 18 March in Procurement Policy Note – Responding to COVID-19. Authorities are allowed to procure goods, services and works with extreme urgency in exceptional circumstances using regulation 32(2)(c) under the Public Contract Regulations 2015. We have also made it clear that authorities must continue to achieve value for money for taxpayers, use good commercial judgement and publish the details of any awards made, in line with Government transparency guidelines. A copy of the procurement policy note is attached.



PPN_01-20_-_Responding_to_COVID19
(PDF Document, 167.15 KB)

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many COVID-19 contact tracing workers (1) have been recruited, (2) have been trained, and (3) are currently working on such tracing.

lord bethell: We have recruited over 25,000 contact tracers in England to support contact tracing as part of the new NHS Test and Trace service. These contact tracers are a mix of call handlers and health professionals and will support existing public health experts who have been undertaking outbreak tracing and management throughout the pandemic.All contact tracers receive appropriate training. In such a large service there will be some turnover of staff and therefore ongoing recruitment and training. Recruitment and training figures will therefore change daily.The NHS Test and Trace Programme launched on 28 May so newly recruited contact tracers will have started shifts from that point forwards.

Carbon Monoxide: Poisoning

baroness finlay of llandaff: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in view ofcarbon monoxide poisoning risks in the home, what steps they have taken to (1) raise awareness of the availability of free call-out gas services, (2) ensure that every pregnant woman has a carbon monoxide alarm following the suspension of antenatal screening for carbon monoxide, (3) amend the symptoms algorithm on the NHS 111 line to take account of the fact that symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can masquerade as those of COVID-19.

lord bethell: The Department does not have a remit for the oversight of gas services or domestic carbon monoxide alarms.NHS England and NHS Improvement issued guidance to maternity services to pause carbon monoxide testing of pregnant women during COVID-19 pandemic.NHS 111, through the NHS Pathways system, uses information and symptoms given by the patient to assess what care they need. NHS Pathways does not diagnose but will recommend further action, including referrals, based upon their assessment. If anyone (including pregnant women) presents with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, they would be assessed using the appropriate algorithm based on their symptoms.

Gambling: Mental Health

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Royal Society for Public Health Problem gambling and suicidality in England: secondary analysis of a representative cross-sectional survey, published on 12 May; and what regulatory measures they have changed as a result of evidence linking gambling-related harm and suicide.

lord bethell: Officials have assessed the research article published by the Royal Society for Public Health as a valuable addition to the evidence base about the risk factors of suicidal behaviour but have noted that caution is needed when interpreting the study’s results as the sample size for the problem gambler group is very small and comes from data collected in 2007.We know that there may be wider lifestyle factors associated with gambling addiction that may link to poor mental health and that gambling addiction can create a cycle of debt which can also have a significant impact on mental health and may, in extreme cases, lead to thoughts of suicide. We committed to addressing suicide risk and gambling in the most recent progress report on the National Suicide Prevention Strategy and the Cross-Government Suicide Prevention Workplan, published in January 2019.

NHS: Disclosure of Information

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the protocols in relation to whistle-blowing in the NHS; and what plans they have to issue new guidance to prevent the victimisation of employees in the health and care sectors, including those employed by private companies, who highlight any unsafe, inadequate, inefficient or potentially corrupt practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: Speaking up is vital for ensuring patient safety and quality services and should be routine business in the National Health Service. As set out in the NHS Freedom to Speak Up policy, anyone in the NHS who wishes to raise a concern can do so through their line management, or lead clinician. If they do not feel comfortable doing so, they can raise concerns through their Freedom to Speak Up Guardian or outside their organisation, for example through the Care Quality Commission. Those seeking guidance on how to raise a concern can call the Speak Up Direct helpline.More broadly, whistle-blowers play an important role in bringing to light wrongdoing in the workplace. The Employment Rights Act 1996, amended by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, gives legal protection to workers who speak up. The legislation is intended to build openness and trust by ensuring that workers who hold their employers to account are treated fairly.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in the development of a vaccine for COVID-19.

lord bethell: Developing a vaccine is a complex process that can take many months and has no guarantees of success. We have pledged £250 million to the international effort to find a vaccine – the largest international contribution of any country – and are backing two of the global front-runners in the United Kingdom, at the University of Oxford and Imperial College, London. The Government recently announced £84 million of new funding to support Oxford and Imperial, bringing the total Government investment in these institutions to over £130 million.The University of Oxford and AstraZeneca have recently announced a partnership to support the further development, large-scale manufacture and potential distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine currently being trialled by the University.

Wales Office

UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Wales

lord german: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund matches the (1) money currently received by Wales from EU funding programmes, and (2) level of discretion the Welsh Government has over the use of such funds.

baroness bloomfield of hinton waldrist: Wales has received more than £4 billion in European structural fund support since 2000, almost half of which will have accrued in the current spending round. The UK Government recognises the vital role that European structural funds have played in Wales over the past two decades, and has committed, at a minimum, to matching current levels of funding for each nation. We are determined that Wales will not be out of pocket now that we have left the EU, and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will be instrumental in making good on this. In terms of the powers that the Welsh Government will have over these funds, the UK Government is fully committed to respecting devolution and the devolved institutions. We want to ensure that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund can deliver for the people of Wales, and the Secretary of State for Wales has had positive discussions with colleagues in the Welsh Government on how our two Governments can work together to make a success of the Fund.

Department for Education

Children's Commissioner for England: Public Appointments

baroness eaton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that the provisions of the Family Test are used as a guide in the appointment of a new Children's Commissioner for England.

baroness berridge: The primary function of the Children’s Commissioner for England is promoting and protecting the rights of children in England and by extension of that, the Commissioner has a part to play in issues that affect families. This is a key role for protecting children’s rights, particularly the most vulnerable, and the recruitment of a new Commissioner is a priority for the government.Whilst the Family Test is primarily a tool to prompt policymakers to consider potential impacts on family functioning and relationships in a more holistic way, various considerations will be taken into account as part of the appointment process of identifying the most appropriate person to take on the role of the new Children’s Commissioner, which is a Significant Public Appointment.

Schools: Breakfast Clubs

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to continue to provide support for the National School Breakfast Programme over the May half-term holiday and summer holidays.

baroness berridge: As both my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.Our latest guidance for schools is set out below: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.Alongside our national approach to supporting free school meal pupils, we are committed to supporting schools and children who benefit from our breakfast club programme. Our suppliers, Family Action along with Magic Breakfast, are in contact with schools on the programme, where possible, and are working closely with them to target the children most in need to continue to provide them with a healthy breakfast.Schools on the programme can choose to support target children in the way which works best for them. This may include parents collecting food parcels from open schools or breakfast food ‘drop offs’ to target families. This should be arranged alongside the school’s wider support for children on free school meals, and schools must follow Public Health England’s advice on social distancing at all times.This programme operates during term time, and we would not expect provision to continue through schools during the May half term holiday week. We continue to work flexibly with Family Action and Magic Breakfast on the best ways to support schools during the COVID-19 outbreak.These are rapidly developing circumstances. We continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Schools: Academic Year

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whetherthey plan to ask schools to stay open during what is normally regarded as the summer holiday period.

baroness berridge: There are no plans to open schools during the summer holidays.The department understands that the COVID-19 outbreak has caused disruption to young people’s education as teachers and parents have had to adapt to remote education. We are doing everything possible to make sure every child, whatever their background, has the support they need to deal with the impact of coronavirus on their education and wellbeing and are working with partners to consider the best ways to deliver this ongoing support.

Higher Education: Finance

lord blunkett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on funding for (1) medical faculties, and (2) the teaching of STEM subjects, at higher education institutions of any fall in the amount of funding received by cross-subsidisation from studentsof arts and humanitiessubjects due to a decrease in the numbers of any such students. [T]

baroness berridge: In light of COVID-19, we have carefully assessed the challenges the sector is facing and brought forward a comprehensive support package for higher education providers and students in order to stabilise the admissions system and ease pressures on universities’ finances. This included confirming universities’ eligibility to apply for the government financial support schemes and bringing forward £100 million of research funding and an estimated £2.6 billion worth of tuition fee payments for providers. The government continues to prioritise science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects and medicine.Additionally, the government continues to contribute teaching grant funding to support the delivery of priority activity, including for high-cost subjects. High-cost subject funding is due to total £690 million for 2020-21 and it is targeted at many STEM courses, as well as medicine. Very high-cost STEM subject funding is due to be £24 million for 2020-21.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Deployment

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many members of the UK Armed Forces are currently deployed on NATO operations, broken down by service.

baroness goldie: In total there are 2,005 members of the UK Armed Forces deployed on NATO operations. The Navy has 14 deployed, the Army has 1,727 deployed and the RAF has 264 deployed. This table provides greater detail should it be required.CountryArmyRAFNavyTotalLITHUANIA21641167ESTONIA83811840POLAND13610137KOSOVO200020IRAQ4116AFGHANISTAN7279711835Total1727264142005

Defence: Expenditure

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to continue meeting their NATO commitment to spending two per cent of GDP on defence in real terms.

baroness goldie: Her Majesty's Government is committed to spending at least 2% of GDP on Defence each year of this Parliament, as per the Defence Investment Pledge. The UK is one of only a handful of nations that meets, and in our case exceeds the 2% target, and remains the largest European Defence spender in NATO.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what would the levels of the benefit cap be if they represented the same percentage of average earnings as they did when introduced in 2016; and what would be the cost of raising the cap to those levels.

baroness stedman-scott: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate costs.

Unemployment: Coronavirus

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what long term proposals they have to tackle any unemployment resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness stedman-scott: We know this is a worrying time for people and we stand ready to support anyone impacted by job loss. In response to COVID-19 we have established an alternative service to our usual face-to-face offer. People will be able to access redundancy help and job search advice on the Department’s new Job Help campaign website (www.jobhelp.dwp.gov.uk). There is also information on gov.uk and updated information packs provided to employers to help them signpost employees to the support that is available. The support includes: connecting people to jobs in the labour market;helping with job search including CV writing, interview skills, where to find jobs and how to apply for them;helping to identify transferable skills and skills gaps (linked to the local labour market); andadvising what benefits they may get and how to claim. The Rapid Response Service is co-ordinated nationally by the National Employer and Partnership Team and managed by Jobcentre Plus. Delivery partners include the National Careers Service, local training providers, employers, HM Revenue & Customs, Money Advice Service and the skills bodies in England. These services are offered by equivalents in the Devolved Administrations: PACE (Scotland) and ReAct (Wales). Redundancy support in Northern Ireland is devolved with separate funding and delivery arrangements where no partner support is available

Marriage Guidance

baroness eaton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what evaluation has taken place of projects funded bythe Department for Work and Pensions Reducing Parental Conflict Programme; and when a final evaluation of the programme will be published.

baroness stedman-scott: The evaluation of the Reducing Parental Conflict Programme is ongoing and a final research report will be published in 2022.

Marriage Guidance

baroness eaton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the Department for Work and Pensions Reducing Parental Conflict Programme beyond 2021.

baroness stedman-scott: The Reducing Parental Conflict Programme is providing crucial support to families, particularly those who may be under increased pressure due to COVID-19. We are working with our local delivery partners to ensure that programme delivery continues during the period of social distancing restrictions, being flexible and innovative in ways that we can reach families that require support. Partners are continuing to make progress in embedding a focus on parental conflict in local services across all local authority areas in England. Decisions on taking forward the Reducing Parental Conflict Programme will be taken by the Department in due course.

Universal Credit: Coronavirus

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they expect Universal Credit claimants to take during the COVID-19 pandemic to avoid the application of the benefit cap.

baroness stedman-scott: There are exemptions to the application of the benefit cap that do not require a claimant to take additional steps. Claimants may benefit from a nine-month grace period where their benefit will not be capped if they have a sustained work record. Exemptions will continue to apply for the most vulnerable claimants who are entitled to disability benefits and carer benefits. In addition, Universal Credit households are exempt from the cap if they receive earnings of at least £604 in each assessment period. We would encourage claimants to continue to prepare and look for work where it is safe to do so. There are jobs available in key sectors such as agriculture, distribution and health and social care. In addition, retailers have announced tens of thousands of new jobs in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Claimants are encouraged to explore these opportunities and others, where able to do so. The online service Find a Job can be used to search and apply for them. We continue to offer support to our claimants through their online journal. Claimants can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payments from their local authority if they need additional support to meet housing costs and over £1 billion has been provided to Local Authorities since 2011 to help the most vulnerable claimants. There is already £180 million in Discretionary Housing Payments for local authorities to distribute for supporting renters with housing costs in the private and social rented sectors in 2020/21. This includes an additional £40 million as announced at the spending round last year.

State Retirement Pensions: Uprating

baroness altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost to the Exchequer for each of the next 20 years of increasing state pensions by the best of price or earnings inflation in place of a triple lock.

baroness stedman-scott: The table below provides the estimated cost to the Exchequer for each of the next 20 years of increasing state pensions by the best of price or earnings inflation (‘double lock’) in place of a triple lock.The figures assume that the change in uprating happens from 2023/24. They are based on analysis done in 2018, so they do not take into account any impacts of covid-19.   Expenditure Prices (£billion) as a percentage of GDPFinancial YearDouble LockTriple Lock2020/214.64.62021/224.74.72022/234.74.72023/244.74.72024/254.84.82025/264.94.92026/274.94.92027/284.74.82028/294.84.82029/304.94.92030/315.05.02031/325.15.22032/335.25.32033/345.35.42034/355.45.52035/365.55.62036/375.65.72037/385.65.72038/395.65.72039/405.75.72040/415.75.8Source: DWP modelling. The figures include the cost of the State Pension. They do not include the cost of Pension Credit or other pensioner benefits.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Livestock: Hormone Treatments

lord jopling: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Gardiner of Kimble n 15 May (HL3775), whether they will now answer the question put, namely,why they have adopted the EU's legislation on the use of growth hormones in food production; and what caused the change in policy held by previous governments on that legislation within the Council of European Agricultural Ministers.

lord gardiner of kimble: As a Member State, the UK fulfilled its obligations of EU membership and implemented EU Council Directive 96/22/EC (as amended) into domestic law. UK policy was always to implement EU law as required. Although the UK expressed some concerns with the robustness of the scientific evidence underpinning the EU ban at the time, it has always been fully implemented in the UK and this will continue, now we have left the EU.

Home Office

Asylum: Finance

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to make Wi-Fi available for people living in all forms of asylum accommodation so that they can contact essential mental health support services, currently only offered online, during the COVID-19 pandemic without having to spend any portion of their £37.50 weekly allowance on such data.

baroness williams of trafford: Asylum seekers receiving support under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 199 are generally provided with accommodation and a cash allowance to cover other essential living needs. The level of the cash allowance provided take into account communication needs, including the cost of buying and using a mobile phone. As a result of the Covid-19 crisis a higher proportion of asylum seekers than usual are being accommodated in full-board hostels and hotels. We are looking at practical ways of providing internet access to this group and other ways to enable them to communicate effectively.

Surveillance: Coronavirus

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 14 May (HL3508), what are the specific exemptions the Civil Aviation Authority have granted to the Emergency Services, including the police; and from which particular requirements in the Air Navigation Order 2016 those agencies are so exempted.

baroness williams of trafford: The use of drones is regulated by the Air Navigation Order (ANO) 2016.In July 2017 the CAA issued an exemption to the emergency services to allow for greater flexibility in the operation of drones in the event of an immediate risk to life or a critical incident; subject to certain safeguards.The exemption relates to Article 94(3) – operation of a drone within visual line of sight.Article 95 - operation within minimum distances from congested areas, people, vessels, vehicles and structures.These exemptions are subject to additional safeguards set out by the CAA and remain valid.On the 27th of March 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic the CAA issued an exemption to the ANO allowing emergency services to operate drones more flexibly to enforce lockdown requirements. These exemptions related to:Article 94(3) – requires that the operation of a drone is done within visual line of sight;Article 95 - operation within minimum distances from congested areas, people, vessels, vehicles and structures; the exemption reduces the distance from 50m to 10 or 20 dependent on the weight of the drone.Article 94A(2)- relating to the maximum height at which drones are allowed to operate, the exemption increased the distance from 400ft to 600ft. On the 8th of April this height was reduced from 600ft to 500ft due to an increase in general helicopter activity.These exemptions were subject to additional safeguards such as the need for an operational observer and to maintain the UA in visual line of sight at all times.The Covid-19 exemptions have now been revoked due to the return of regular aviation activity.Subject to meeting the requirements within the ANO and any applicable exemptions issued by the CAA, it is an operational matter for police forces to decide how to deploy drones.

Asylum: Finance

lord stunell: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 11 May (HL3390), what plans they have to include consideration of extending the current weekly validity of the Aspen card for asylum seekers alongside the quantum in the current review.

lord stunell: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 11 May (HL3390), on what date the current review into the level of cash allowances for asylum seekers will be published.

baroness williams of trafford: The asylum support cash payments are currently made on a weekly basis. There has been some suggestion that these payments should be made fortnightly, and we are currently seeking views on this issue. We are currently reviewing the level of the cash payments, as we do each year, to ensure that they remain capable of meeting the essential living needs of asylum seekers and will announce the outcome as soon as we can.

Extradition: USA

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to renegotiate current extradition arrangements between the UK and the USA.

baroness williams of trafford: There is no current intention to renegotiate the UK-US Extradition Treaty.

Extradition: EU Countries

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government with which EU member states they have concluded extradition agreements to come into force after the end of the transition period.

baroness williams of trafford: The safety and security of our citizens is the government’s top priority, which is why we have said the agreement with the EU on law enforcement and judicial cooperation on criminal matters should provide for fast-track extradition arrangements based on the EU’s arrangements with Norway and Iceland, but with appropriate further safeguards for individuals beyond those in the European Arrest Warrant.  Both the UK and the EU are committed in the Political Declaration to reaching agreement by the end of 2020.

Extradition: USA

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have been extradited (1) to the USA from the UK, and (2) to the UK from the USA, since the Extradition Act 2003 came into force.

baroness williams of trafford: The Extradition Act 2003 entered into force on 1 January 2004. To date, since entry into force, there have been 177 extraditions from the UK to the US, and 67 from the US to the UK.

Police: Protective Clothing

lord harris of haringey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the average quantity of personal protective equipment required on a daily basis by the police service; and if they have not made such an assessment, why not.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government is working closely with its partners including the emergency services on a range of issues including the availability of suitable PPE. The National Police Chiefs’ Council have confirmed that police currently have a good supply of PPE and they are working to oversee its distribution to forces. We will continue to work with them to ensure this continues.

Slavery: Victim Support Schemes

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all individuals currently in receipt of support, including outreach support, through the Victim Care Contract, will continue to receive financial and case work assistance for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness williams of trafford: The safety and security of those supported through the modern slavery Victim Care Contract (VCC) is a top priority for government. Potential victims within the VCC will continue to have access to support during the pandemic. We are continually reviewing how essential services can best be maintained and delivered to ensure victims receive, and have the means to access, the support they need at this time. We are providing support through virtual means as required and have introduced a new contactless payment card to ensure safe receipt of financial support. The Recovery Needs Assessment (RNA) informs tailored move on plans to help victims transition out of the VCC and back into the community where appropriate. The assessment considers the availability of alternative, and often more sustainable, support services and victims will only begin a move on process if it is suitable for them to do so, in line with their recovery needs. The policy change announced on 6 April mean individuals who are accommodated in the VCC, will have continued access to this accommodation until at least the 6 July 2020. The policy will be reviewed before the end of June in respect of the Government’s latest covid-19 advice. This change, alongside the existing support mechanisms within the contract will ensure that vulnerable individuals are not left without the support they need at this challenging time.

Immigrants: Finance

baroness jones of whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they consider that people designated as "no recourse to public funds" under theImmigration and Asylum Act 1999 will have access to food during the lockdown.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office is working closely with other government departments, including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs to support people, including migrants with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), through this crisis.  Departments are sharing what they are learning from other bodies and charities with each other to ensure we continue to take a compassionate and pragmatic approach to an unprecedented situation. Many of the wide-ranging Covid-19 measures the Government has put in place, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, Self-employment Income Support Scheme and rental and mortgage protections are not public funds and therefore are available to migrants with NRPF.Local authorities can provide basic safety net support if it is established there is a care need which does not arise solely from destitution, for example, where there are community care needs, migrants with serious health problems or family cases where the wellbeing of a child is in question. The Government has provided more than £3.2 billion of funding to local authorities in England, and additional funding under the Barnett formula to the devolved administrations to enable them to respond to Covid-19 pressures across all the services they deliver, including services helping the most vulnerable. In addition, on the 8th April the Chancellor announced an additional £750m package of support for charities across the UK to ensure they can continue their vital work during the Covid-19 pandemic.More information on the support available for migrants affected by Covid-19 can be found on Gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-get-support-if-youre-a-migrant-living-in-the-uk. We will keep the situation under review and consider further measures if needed.

Cybercrime: Coronavirus

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking toaddress the prevalence of online crime during the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness williams of trafford: While it is yet too early to identify any trend in online crime since the outbreak of Covid-19 the Government and law enforcement colleagues are working tirelessly to identify and disrupt those seeking to use online platforms to commit these crimes. Criminals are looking to take advantage; Covid-19-related fraud and cybercrimes now represent 2.7% of all reported fraud to Action Fraud. Operational partners, the National Crime Agency, the National Cyber Security Centre and City of London Police, have thwarted over 2,000 scams in April alone. The Government is committed to preventing criminals from profiting from covid-19 and ensuring that the public and business can protect themselves. On 21 April the National Cyber Security Centre launched the Suspicious Email Reporting Service. This allows members of the public to report any suspicious emails. This has received over 160,000 reports, leading to over 300 previously unknown phishing campaigns being taken down. On 23 April the Home Office launched a gov.uk page on coronavirus-related fraud and cybercrime, including easy-to-follow steps for people to better protect themselves as well as signposting all relevant advice and tips. This page can be at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-fraud-and-cyber-crime The Home Office are working closely with partner organisations such Trading Standards, the Financial Conduct Authority and all major banks to ensure key online safety guidance and messages are communicated

Police: Protective Clothing

lord stevens of kirkwhelpington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of concerns raised by police officers about the supply of personal protection equipment for frontline duties; and what (1) guidance they have issued, and (2) support they have provided, to police forces in England and Wales in relation to the provision of such equipment.

baroness williams of trafford: The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) have confirmed that the police have a good supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) and they are working to oversee its distribution to forces. The Government continue to work closely with the police to ensure this continues. The Government has published guidance on appropriate PPE for emergency workers, including the police. The NPCC and the College of Policing have issued operational guidance to all forces on the use of PPE tailored to their unique role to ensure officers and staff are protected sufficiently. The guidance covers how, when and what type of PPE to wear across a range of practical scenarios. An explanatory note of the guidance is available here: https://www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/Documents/Personal-Protective-Equipment-Operational-Guidance-1.pdf

Immigration Controls: Quarantine

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans are in place to ensure that people quarantine for two weeks following arrival into the UK.

baroness williams of trafford: Given the high levels of compliance we have seen to date, we expect that the majority of people will do the right thing and abide by these measures. But we will take enforcement action against the minority of people who endanger the safety of others. The police will continue to use their powers proportionately and will engage, explain and encourage, and only as a last resort, enforce. British citizens and foreign nationals who fail to comply with the mandatory conditions could face enforcement action. A breach of self-isolation would be punishable with a £1,000 fixed penalty notice in England or potential prosecution and unlimited fine. Immigration action will also be considered as a last resort for foreign nationals. Enforcement measures will be set individually by the Devolved Administrations.

Cabinet Office

Customs: Northern Ireland

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intendto establish customs posts at ports and airports in Northern Ireland; and if so, (1) where those posts will be located, and (2) what will be the function and purpose of those posts.

lord true: On 20 May 2020 the UK Government set out our approach in the Command Paper ‘The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol’ confirming there will be no new physical customs infrastructure in Northern Ireland (or in Great Britain ports facing Northern Ireland). The limited additional processes required by the Protocol should be implemented in a way that takes account of all available flexibilities, and respects Northern Ireland’s place in the UK’s customs territory.As ministers set out, we will expand some existing entry points for agrifood goods to provide for proportionate additional controls, in locations where these already take place such as Larne and Belfast. We will continue to work closely with the NI Executive to take that work forward.

Economic Situation: Coronavirus

baroness drake: To ask Her Majesty's Government what further initiatives they will put in place to build and maintain a consensus with Parliament, devolved administrations and local governments on how the national interests can best be met as the restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic are lifted and they seek to rebuild the economy.

lord true: Protecting the health and safety of the public is, and must always be, our top priority. The UK Government is working with the Devolved Administrations and local government to keep the whole of the UK safe. For example, back to work guidance documents have been developed in consultation with approximately 250 businesses, unions, industry leaders as well as the Devolved Administrations.The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is working with local resilience forums to coordinate the response of local public services, and provide support to the most vulnerable in our communities. The department has published guidance here for local councils during the coronavirus outbreak:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-local-governmentIt is vital that Parliament can continue to scrutinise the Government and legislate to support the coronavirus response.

Treasury

Business: Coronavirus

baroness drake: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will provide greater clarity on their plans for the phasing out of current emergency financial measures and the phasing in of any further support measures, so that businesses and organisations have time to assess the implications and plan accordingly.

lord agnew of oulton: As the economy re-opens, we are looking at how to adjust our support in a way that ensures people can get back to work, protecting both the UK economy and the livelihoods of the British people. On the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Chancellor has been clear that getting people back to work will be introduced in a measured way, avoiding a cliff edge. The scheme will run in full until July. We will then introduce more flexibility so that we move out of the scheme in a measured way that protects people’s incomes and helps support furloughed employees as they return to work. This will run for three months from August through to the end of October. The Government will continue to monitor developments to understand the impacts of COVID-19 on individuals and businesses.

International Monetary System

lord chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had with Cabinet colleagues on their policy at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring meetings on the issuing of additional special drawing rights to (1) African countries, and (2) other IMF members,which need the liquidity.

lord chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support proposals made at the IMF and World Bank spring meetings to issue additional Special Drawing Rights to (1) African, and (2) other IMF members, in need of liquidity.

lord agnew of oulton: The Government has been vocal in supporting the IMF in its response to liquidity challenges posed by Covid-19. In response to the crisis, the IMF has doubled its concessional emergency financing support available through the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) and provided debt relief through the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT). Several African countries have benefited from support from the PRGT and CCRT. The UK has strongly supported these efforts. In the face of increased demand for PRGT and CCRT resources, the UK has recently agreed a new £2.2bn loan to the PRGT and provided a contribution of up to £150m to the CCRT. The Government welcomes the IMF’s recent agreement on a new instrument, the Short-term Liquidity Line, to provide liquidity support for IMF members with strong macro-economic fundamentals. The Government has also encouraged the IMF to keep the possibility of a Special Drawing Rights allocation under review, and will continue to do so. HM Treasury is the department responsible for the UK’s relationship with the IMF. The relevant Cabinet committees have agreed on the importance of supporting vulnerable countries in responding to the crisis, including through the IMF.

VAT

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the (1) application, and (2) rates, of VAT will remain the same in Northern Ireland and Great Britain following the end of the transition period for the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

lord agnew of oulton: The Northern Ireland Protocol includes provisions that affect the operation of VAT and excise in Northern Ireland after the transition period. The Protocol ensures that Northern Ireland remains part of the UK’s VAT and excise systems, with HMRC continuing to be responsible for the operation and collection of these revenues and Parliament responsible for setting rates across the UK. The Protocol also ensures that the Government could apply certain zero-rates or reduced rates in the UK, including Northern Ireland, in the future; enabling, for example, the Government to meet its commitment to introduce a zero-rate for women’s sanitary products across the UK.

Insurance Companies

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to review the effect of deteriorating credit quality on the (1) profits, and (2) capital generated to meet claims, of life insurance companies under the matching adjustment permitted by the Prudential Regulation Authority.

lord agnew of oulton: Since the onset of the crisis caused by covid-19, the Government has been monitoring any impact of any deteriorating credit quality on the profits and capital generated to meet the claims of life insurance companies closely. We monitor developments in the profitability, liquidity and solvency of insurance companies, including the impact of credit quality on the matching adjustment and any resulting impact on these metrics. The Prudential Regulation Authority continually keeps the operation of the matching adjustment under review.

Occupational Pensions: Tax Allowances

baroness altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Agnew of Oulton on 31 March (HL2729), how many people, recorded in HMRC’s Real Time Information records as earning below the personal tax threshold, were contributing at work to a pension scheme using the Relief at Source method of income tax relief in the tax years after 2016; and, of these, how many were (1) women, and (2) men.

lord agnew of oulton: HMRC estimate that 1.3m individuals earning below the personal allowance in 2017-18 made workplace pension contributions via Real Time Information (RTI) using relief at source arrangements. About 65% of these individuals are estimated to be female and 35% are estimated to be male. The personal allowance in 2017-18 was £11,500. HMRC’s Survey of Personal Income (SPI) and administrative data was used to produce the estimates. The 2017-18 SPI data (published in March 2020) is the latest year available. The SPI is updated annually.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Entertainments and Sports

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to return any entertainment and sports centres that are currently being used for medical purposes to their normal use.

baroness barran: Both sport and healthcare are devolved, and each of the Devolved Authorities will have its own approach to these facilities. Changes in use of such facilities will be made on a location by location basis as a result of discussions between the local parties, depending on local need at the time. In England, six NHS Nightingale hospitals have been opened of the seven being built across the country, as part of actions taken to ensure the NHS has sufficient hospital capacity to care for COVID-19 patients. This includes the Nightingale hospitals in London (London ExCel) and Birmingham (Birmingham National Exhibition Centre). Surge capacity is holding up well in NHS hospitals across the country. As such, both the London ExCel and Birmingham National Exhibition Centre have now been placed on standby and will not be accepting patients. It is possible the NHS Nightingale hospitals will be needed in the months ahead, and the Government will maintain that extra capacity until there is more certainty.

Broadband: Urban Areas

lord freyberg: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to mandate the rollout by Openreach of fibre-to-the-premises broadband to urban areas; and what is their timeframe for this rollout.

baroness barran: The Government's ambition is for nationwide coverage of gigabit capable broadband as soon as possible. Gigabit capable broadband can be delivered by fibre to the premise broadband, as well as other technologies, such as upgraded cable networks. We believe the best way to deliver nationwide coverage is to promote network competition and commercial investment by BT Openreach and other operators wherever possible, and to intervene with public subsidy where necessary. To deliver this, we are taking action to reduce barriers to commercial deployment including, for example, through the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold) Property Bill, which will make it easier to connect tenanted properties with an unresponsive landlord. At Budget, we also committed to invest £5 billion to deliver gigabit capable deployment to the hardest to reach areas of the country. The Government does not have formal powers to mandate the rollout of gigabit capable broadband by a private sector company like BT. However, BT recently announced their ambition to deliver gigabit connectivity to 20 million premises during the 2020s.

Broadband: Standards

lord freyberg: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in ensuring that every home and business in the UK will have access to (1) full fibre, and (2) gigabit-capable, broadband by 2025.

lord freyberg: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect (1) full fibre, and (2) gigabit-capable, broadband will be available to every home and business in London.

baroness barran: Ofcom’s latest Connected Nations update found that, as of January 2020, over 3.5 million premises or 12% of the UK had access to full fibre broadband. This represents a considerable increase from 7% coverage in January 2019. In addition, the independent ThinkBroadband website estimates that around 19% of UK premises currently have access to gigabit capable broadband, including full fibre, but also upgraded cable broadband. Full fibre figures for London boroughs are generally higher than the UK average. According to Connected Nations, 19 London Boroughs had full fibre coverage above the national average. However, there are notable differences between boroughs, ranging from full fibre coverage of 50.9% in Barking and Dagenham, compared to 1.1% in Bromley.We are taking action to reduce barriers to commercial deployment and are confident that telecoms providers will step up and deliver gigabit capable coverage across London by 2025.

Listed Buildings: Risk Assessment

lord patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the practical outcomes of the maintenance of the at risk register of listed buildings in England.

baroness barran: Historic England’s Heritage at Risk programme identifies designated heritage assets – including Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments and Protected Wreck Sites – that are deemed to be at risk of damage or destruction (whether by human interventions or natural processes). It also helps to focus efforts to find creative solutions, and provides opportunities to celebrate successful outcomes.The last five years have seen a steady net decline in the number of entries in the Heritage at Risk Register, from 5,478 in 2015 to 5,073 in 2019. Notable successes from the last 12 months include the Grade II* listed former School of Art (Moseley Road, Birmingham), now a community hub and studio space; and the Grade II* listed Holy Trinity Church (Bristol), now a thriving arts centre.

Tourism: Coronavirus

lord pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have received from the Tourism Society about establishing an inquiry into the support needed to protect jobs in the tourism industry in England from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; and what plans they have to consult with the Tourism Society on this issue.

baroness barran: The Department has received written representations from the Tourism Society, along with many other Tourism businesses and trade bodies throughout this period. We have engaged with stakeholders throughout the crisis to monitor the impact on workers in the tourism industry. We will continue to consult stakeholders from across the sector to assess how we can most effectively support businesses and their employees during the recovery period. The Government has announced a number of measures to help individuals whose work has been impacted by the current economic emergency. This includes the recently extended Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.

Women and Equalities

Civil Partnerships

lord randall of uxbridge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to allow virtual civil partnership registrations during the COVID-19 lockdown.

baroness berridge: At present, only civil partnerships or marriages conducted under the special procedure, for those who are seriously ill and not expected to recover, are being conducted, and only where the Registrar General thinks it is safe to do so according to Public Health England guidelines. The Government has no plans to introduce virtual registration of civil partnerships.We understand the frustration couples planning a civil partnership or a wedding must be feeling, and as with all coronavirus restrictions we will look to ease them as soon as it is safe to do so. As set out in our roadmap, those decisions will be based on scientific evidence.